Arts House continues its strong commitment to accessibility and inclusive storytelling with Specials, a bold, funny and confronting new work by playwright and performer Kath Duncan, running March 24 to 29, 2026 at Arts House in North Melbourne.
Following sold‑out development showings in 2024, Specials returns as a fully realised world premiere, featuring an all‑disabled cast and drawing on real‑life experiences of Australia’s special education system. Described as a “rally cry and rebellion,” the work blends humour, non‑fiction and theatrical invention to shine a light on stories that have too often been hidden from view.
In a significant step for accessible arts promotion, Arts House has also been announced as a new sponsor of Vision Australia Radio, reflecting its ongoing commitment to Melbourne’s blind and low vision community. The partnership builds naturally on Arts House’s established accessibility supports, which include audio described performances, tactile tours, wheelchair‑accessible venues, quiet spaces, Companion Card acceptance, a welcoming environment for assistance dogs and of course content often produced for and by people with the lived experience of disability.
For Specials, audiences can access a tactile tour and audio described performance on Friday March 27, with the tactile tour commencing one hour prior to the show. Additional access offerings include a relaxed performance and Auslan‑interpreted session, ensuring a wide range of audiences can engage with the work in ways that suit them best.
Vision Australia Radio Community Engagement Coordinator Jason Gipps has welcomed Arts House as a sponsor, highlighting the importance of partnerships that go beyond programming to ensure people know what’s available.
“It’s incredibly positive to see more and more arts organisations reaching out to Vision Australia Radio to help promote their work,” Gipps said. “It’s one thing to put on an accessible show, but it’s another thing entirely to tell people about it. Vision Australia Radio reaches a dedicated audience of around 500,000 people Australia‑wide, many of whom are actively seeking information about accessible and affordable experiences like this.”
Partnerships like this help bridge the gap between access and awareness, ensuring inclusive work reaches the audiences it is designed for.
As part of the lead‑up to the season, Vision Australia Radio listeners are encouraged to keep tuning in during the month leading up to the show, with interviews planned featuring artists and creatives behind Specials, offering deeper insight into the making of the work and its access features.
With its fearless storytelling, lived‑experience leadership and strong access framework, Specials stands as a powerful example of what inclusive contemporary performance can look like.
For more information about Specials, including performance times, access services and tickets, visit the Arts House website.
